…as government steps up DNA identification
GILGIL, May 31st -Investigators have achieved a major breakthrough in the tragic Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School fire that claimed the lives of 16 students and leaving 79 injured with varying degrees of severity on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
In a concerted effort through advanced forensic analysis of recovered CCTV footage, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has successfully identified seven students captured lighting the fire at the school dormitory in Gilgil, Nakuru County, before fleeing the scene.
The breakthrough follows an intensive digital review conducted by specialized detectives at the DCI’s Forensic Imaging and Acoustic Laboratory. Collaborating closely with school administrators and teachers, investigators were able to match the video evidence with specific individuals, providing the clearer picture yet of how the fatal inferno was started.
Out of eight suspects who were previously rounded up and arrested by police, six have now been positively identified and confirmed through the security footage. A seventh suspect caught on camera had initially been released into the custody of her parents before the forensic analysis was completed.
According to J.K. Marete, speaking on behalf of the DCI, the student is currently at large, and police are actively tracking her down. As the criminal investigation gains momentum, the government has simultaneously deployed multi-agency teams to handle the aftermath of the tragedy and support the devastated families.
At the Naivasha Sub-County Referral Hospital Mortuary, a team of state pathologists led by Dr Dorothy Njeri concluded post-mortem examinations on the 16 deceased students.
“The autopsies officially confirmed that all victims succumbed to severe burns.Because of the extreme nature of the fire and the condition of the remains, the government has launched a DNA identification process,” the statement reads in part.
Medical teams have already collected DNA reference samples from the grieving families to facilitate the formal and accurate matching of the bodies before they can be released for burial.
To help families cope with the harrowing process of viewing the remains, the government partnered with the Kenya Red Cross, which deployed psychosocial support teams to offer counseling and mental health services at the hospital.
In light of the foregoing, Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba 2026 had on Friday during a presser revealed that two teachers at the learning institution were informed of planned unrest by a section of Form Three learners.
“They, however, didn’t take appropriate action before the arson, despite having been informed beforehand. Preliminary investigations have also established that the tragic fire was an act of arson,” he explained.
CS Ogamba further added that preliminary findings pointed to breaches of safety requirements as stipulated in the School Safety Manual and the Basic Education Regulations.“In particular, there was congestion in the dormitory, and one exit door was locked, contrary to the prescribed safety requirements,” he said.
The National Police Service (NPS) has extended its deepest condolences to the affected families, friends, and the wider Utumishi Girls community, while offering wishes for a quick recovery to students who are still hospitalized with injuries.
Praising the local community for maintaining its calm during a highly emotional week, the DCI commended the parents, guardians, and students who have bravely stepped forward to record statements and assist detectives in reviewing the evidence.
Video Courtesy
The latest tragedy is a painful reminder of the Kyanguli Secondary School fire in 2001 in which 67 deaths were reported, and the Hillside Endarasha fire in 2024 (21 deaths).
The boarding school infernos are often linked to student unrest, overcrowding, and locked emergency exits, sparking a national conversation on the need to strictly uphold school safety and basic education regulations to safeguard lives.
Authorities have urged anyone with further information surrounding the Thursday night dormitory inferno to contact the police, reiterating the government’s commitment to delivering an impartial and thorough inquiry to ensure justice for the 16 victims.
